Maldives Police Service have arrested former Deputy Transport Minister Hassan Zihan after initially opening an investigation into social media posts where he advocated setting fire to key state institutions.
Authorities confirmed today that Zihan is now in custody while law enforcement conducts a broader probe into his online activity and other related issues.
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The arrest follows Facebook posts made by Zihan referencing news reports of anti-government protests in Albania, where demonstrators set fire to their Supreme Court. Sharing the article, Zihan asked why Maldivians couldn’t do the same, writing that arson targeting the Supreme Court, the President’s Office, and the People’s Majlis would be “fun.”
Following public outcry, Zihan deleted the initial remarks and issued a follow-up statement denying intent to commit arson, writing that he was merely “paving the way for the fires of hell” and describing the country as “already destroyed and turned to ashes.”
Zihan, a former MNDF First Lieutenant and Naval Architect, was dismissed from the military under the previous administration before being appointed Deputy Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation under the current government, a position he was removed from in 2024.
